Five questions answered from the world of college football

The Missouri Tigers take to the field for a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri on September 8, 2012. This game marks the first for Missouri as a member of the SEC Conference. By Bryce Moore

J.J. Bailey

What game excites you most this week?

#20 Notre Dame at #10 Michigan State

I’ll state clearly and for the record: I HATE Notre Dame. I know I’m not on a limb with this; plenty of people hate the Irish. Where I may differ is the fact that I hate MSU almost as much. I spent a good portion of my early college years making trips to Lansing, and I grew to loathe the superiority complex of the kids at Michigan State with the fury of a thousand suns. I hated the Big Ten, and I hated the way they talked down to me as a Missouri fan. Lately, however, I’ve made peace with the green and white- mainly because I feel like they’ve earned their pride. Notre Dame fans have not. Many fans my age can’t remember a time when Notre Dame deserved to be revered the way they are.

The school hasn’t done anything of note in a decade, and yet they are treated as royalty. In fact, since the BCS championship inception 20 years ago, they have never made an appearance in the title contest. Yet, poll the average fan on which team is better- Mizzou or Notre Dame- and South Bend wins way too often. They deserve to be relegated to the depths of mediocrity, and yet they rank every year. In the battle of my most hated schools, I find myself unsettlingly invested in Notre Dame’s destruction.

Who is the player to watch this week?

T.J. Yeldon of Alabama.

The freshman ran all over Michigan in week one. He’s averaging eight yards a carry and he looks like the best player in the Bama backfield- something that catches the eye of NFL scouts almost immediately.

His high school stats are gaudy, he mopped his first be opponent, and this will be his first test against an SEC defense, something I’m excited to see.

They said what? (Best quote of the week)

Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick on the ACC:

“Unquestionably, in a host of sports, this is the best athletic conference in the country. And we’ll make it better in that regard.”

I’m sorry, what? I’ll concede that the ACC is often in the running for top basketball conference. The recent implosion of the Big East didn’t help, but that is a very fresh paradigm. The ACC is not, in any way, the best athletic conference “in a host of sports.” I mean lacrosse, sure. Yachting, maybe. But the only sport in which Notre Dame would have added prestige is (and this sickens me to type) football. But they aren’t doing that. Additionally, the conference voted to up its exit fee to $50 million. Seems like they aren’t nearly as confident as Swarbrick that the ACC is so attractive.

Bring it home (biggest storyline of the Mizzou game)

Getting DGB involved

Mizzou survived its first SEC test with some dings and dents, but ultimately looked pretty good. The fourth quarter was ugly but the game was enough to show we aren’t a cupcake. Now ASU comes rolling in, and they are feeling tall. The beat the Tigers last year, the just blew Illinois apart, and they want to start their season off strong. It’s time to use that Bazooka we got this spring.

Yes, he’s a freshman, and yes he’s the future. But he was the best player in the country, and WE GOT HIM. It’s time to let this kid do what he does. Keep a racehorse cooped up for long enough and they’ll forget how to run. I think it’s time to let the reins out on our number one prospect and see what he does.

Bonus Question: If you could take one player in college and use his stats on your NFL fantasy team, who would it be?

Tahj Boyd- Clemson QB

A Heisman-candidate QB playing a puff school. A longtime favorite of my roommate and I. Sammy Watkins is back this week and my man Tahj would certainly help my ailing QB position.

Dan Greenwald

What game excites you most this week?

18 Florida at 23 Tennessee

This is the first time this game has been relevant in at least 11 years, when Steve Spurrier was in charge in Gainsville and Philip Fulmer was the leader in Knoxville. After a sloppy (but winning) start, Florida found its footing against Texas A&M. Tennessee looked impressive against NC ST in the first week and rolled over Georgia State last Saturday. This game is important to the SEC East race. Both teams still play Georgia and South Carolina later this season, but the winner of this contest will be in good shape should South Carolina and Georgia trip up. This is Tennessee's first chance to show it has arrived under Derek Dooley who is finally reaping the rewards of his own recruits.

Who is the player to watch this week?

Tennessee QB Tyler Bray will be facing a defense that has only surrendered 15.5 points a game so far, but the Gators' defense has not faced an experienced QB who can test the them better than a freshman can. Bray carved up NC State's defense two weeks ago by throwing for 333 yards and 2 TD.

They said what? (Best quote of the week)

Tom Osbourne, Nebraska AD: "We believe that Arkansas State is a decent program and will provide an attractive non-conference matchup. We probably could have gotten a lesser opponent for less money but are trying to maintain a reasonably strong schedule." Osbourne is referencing the $1 million Nebraska is paying Arkansas St. to come to play the Huskers in Lincoln, the highest the school has ever paid to a non-conference opponent to entice them to play.

This shows you the length programs will go to get cupcakes on the schedule. Arkansas State may not be a FCS program but it is often scheduled to be a weak opponent for traditional powers. A strength of schedule component will be part of the new playoff system that starts in 2014. Will this sort of thing stop? Of course not. Contending programs want the easy win and they will only take minor steps to make their schedules tougher. Besides, Nebraska's recent performance against UCLA shows everyone why they are desperate to play a cupcake. (I couldn't resist the shot at Nebraska!)

Bring it home (biggest storyline of the Mizzou game): Mizzou defense

Last year Brock Osweiler threw for 353 yards and 3 TD. He is now in the NFL. Arizona State has a new offense and new array of weapons including a 2 QB platoon system with redshirt sophomore Taylor Kelly and redshirt freshman Michael Eubank. So far, the Sun Devils' offense has put up big numbers against inferior competition. The Mizzou defense held Georgia early but struggled in the second half. It should not have as much trouble against ASU. The Tigers will score but the defense must hold up its end of the bargain. If the defense has problems facing ASU's offense, how will stop the more talented attacks in the SEC?

Bonus Question: If you could take one player in college and use his stats on your NFL fantasy team, who would it be?

UCLA running Johnathan Franklin ran wild against Nebraska with 217 yards on 26 carries. This week he faces an 0-2 Houston squad that has already given up 30 points to Texas State and 56 to Louisiana Tech. The Cougars' defense has allowed a combined 493 rushing yards in the first 2 games. If Franklin ran over the Black Shirt defense, then he will have a field day against Houston.